Reflecting nearly 2,000 hours of hand fabrication, this diamond and rock crystal bangle bracelet will headline Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels sale in Hong Kong on April 20. The bracelet by Cartier features a D-flawless, 63.66-carat, pear-shaped white diamond set among smaller white diamonds and rock crystal. The architectural masterpiece carries a pre-auction high estimate of $8.4 million.
Rock crystal is a type of quartz that has an icy appearance. The origin of its use in fine jewelry dates back to the 1920s, when Louis Cartier began working with the material. According to Sotheby's, the bracelet pays homage to the maker's iconic Art Deco roots.
According to Sotheby's, the innovative marriage of diamond and rock crystal creates a dialog between two colorless stones complementing one another in a subtle, yet palpable, manner. They give the design a stylistic feature full of imaginative flair and immeasurable character.
Sotheby's reported that Louis Cartier utilized a polishing technique from the Renaissance period to give a soft shine to rock crystal which, when paired with a diamond, created an intriguing light effect, working in harmony, yet providing texturized depth and modern contrast.
The auction house estimated that the piece will sell in the range of $5.1 million to $8.4 million.
"The appetite for high-quality jewels has never been stronger in Asia with discerning collectors looking for rare diamonds and gemstones, as well as unique and iconic designs," commented Wenhao You, Deputy Chairman, Jewelry, for Sotheby's Asia. "The star lot of the sale — the unique diamond and rock crystal bangle-bracelet by Cartier — combines a phenomenal diamond, mesmerizing design and impeccable craftsmanship, and represents a high jewelry collectible that will shine through time."
Other items that are expected to turn heads during Sotheby's auction include the following:
• A jadeite bracelet called the “Circle of Happiness.” Considered “a true treasure of nature” by the Swiss Gemmological Institute, the bangle weighs an impressive 277.673 carats and carries a subtle range of green to vivid green colors that is characteristic of the finest green jadeite-jade from Burma (Myanmar). The bracelet boasts outstanding translucency that, when illuminated by a light source, results in a glowing effect. Sotheby's will provide an estimate upon request.
• The 7-carat fancy intense purplish-pink, internally flawless diamond at the center of a ring by Sotheby's Diamonds. The piece carries a pre-sale estimate of $5.8 million to $7.1 million.
Credits: Images courtesy of Sotheby's.